Collapsible leg stand



March 3, 1959 R. J. SHAYW ET AL COLLAPSIBLE LEG STAND 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June: 21, 1956 w W O M N m w m E W B l N vm L A THEIR ATTORNEY.

March 3, 1959 R. J. SHAW ET AL 2,

COLLAPSIBLE LEG STAND I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 21, 1956 0 FIGA.

INVENTORS: ROBERT J. SHAW, ALAN E. DEVENDORF,

THEIR ATTORNEY.

Mafch 1959 R. J. SHAW ET AL 2,875,972

COLLAPSIBLE LEG STAND Filed June 21, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FlG.6.

FIG].

INVENTORS: ROBERT J. SHAW, ALAN E. DEVENDORF, BYW/lm THEIR ATTORNEY.

United States Patent "ice drf,Fulton, N. Y., assignors to General Electric C0mpany, a corporation of New York 7 Application J ne 21, 1956, Serial No. 592,891 4 Claims. (Cl. 248-168) The present invention, relates to a collapsible leg stand.

More particularly, the invention relates to a readily detachable, utility collapsible leg stand which may be easily attached-todevices, such as a portable television receiving set, to facilitate use of the device without impairing its portability. I n V u v V In recent years many portable models of known devices, such as television receiving sets, record changers, and, the like have come into existence. In almost all instances, it is necessary to place such portable devices on a table or other similar support to use it conveniently, or otherwise the user must go to the inconvenience of placing the device in operation on the ground or floor. In order toovercome necessity of having to follow. either one of the above sometimes objectionable procedures while using portable devices, the present invention was developed. l V

I Itis, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a collapsible leg stand which is saleable as an accessory for usewith portable devices, such as a portabletelevision receiving set, and which may be easily assembled and placed into use in connection with such portable devices.

Another object of the invention is to providev a collapsible leg stand for use with portable devices, which in its collapsed or retracted position does notimpair their portability or theuse of existing'feet or support permanently secured to such portable devices.

A .still further object of the invention is to provide a eollapsible. leg stand incorporating the above-set-forth features which is'relatively inexpensive to fabricate.

Other objects, features and many attendantadvantages will beappreciatedmore readily asthe same becomes betterunderstood by reference to the following detailed description, when considered in connection with the ac.- companying drawings, wherein like parts in each of the several figures are identified by the same reference character, and wherein:

.Figure 1 is a structed in accordance with the invention, and shows/the same in its extended position supporting a portable television receiving set; I Figure 2 is .a bottom, perspective view of the collapsible leg stand shown in Figure 1, and illustrates the manner in which the stand is secured to the bottom surface of a portable television receiver; 7 Figure 3 isa plan view of a portion of the collapsible legstand shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective View. of a leaf spring cornprising a part of the collapsible leg stand shown in Figures l and 2, for use with the assemblage illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure for use in the manner similar to the leaf spring shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a close-up, bottom, plan view of a portable'television receiver showing a collapsible leg stand stand 11 constructed side viewof a collapsible leg stand coni 5 is a perspective view of a second leaf spring constructed-in accordance with the. invention mounted 2 therein with the collapsible legs thereof in the retracted position; and

Figure 7 is a shown in Figure Figure l of the drawings in accordance with the invention having a portable television receiver 12 supported thereon. As is best shown in Figures 2 and 3, the detachable collapsible leg stand 11 comprises a base member 13 thus shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The base member 13 has a plurality of'retractable or folding legs 14, 15 and 16 retractably secured thereto and comprises a relatively flat, rigid piece of sheet material, preferably sheet metal, having the edges 17 thereof turned downwardly to improve its rigidity. Base member 13 also has a rectilinear stepped configuration defined by a long side portion 18, a relatively short side portion 19, a long front cross-sectional view of the structure 6 taken through plane 7-7 thereof. 7

.21, and a relatively short back portion 22. The retractable legs 14 through 16 are retractably supported on base member 13 by means of a tubular hinge portion 23 which forms asemi-tubular or tubular journal about the retractable legs 14 through 16 that are formed from solid steel rods. Each of the retractable legs 14-16 has a crank portion 24 formed therein located intermediate the two bearing portions thereof which is journalied in the tubular hinge portions 23 of base member 13. The retractable legs are assembled to base member 13 in a manner such that the crank portions 24 of retractable legs 14 and 15' are aligned with each other, and with a web portion 25 of base member 13, and similarly, the crank portion 24 of retractable leg 16 is aligned with a second web portion 25a of the base member. For protective purposes,

small rubber or other plastic pads may be secured. to the ends of the legs to prevent damage to any surface on which the stand might be supported.

' From a consideration of the above description and Figure 3 of the drawings, it can be appreciated that formation of the web portions 25 and 25a in base member 13 leaves large areas of open space in the base member 13 which allow air circulation up through the retractable leg stand to the device it supports, and also lightens the base member. Also, because each of the retractable legs 14-16 is identical in configuration, all may be made from the same die thereby effecting a savings in the cost of manufacture of the stand.

The retractable leg stand shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings further includes a first leaf spring 26 and a second leaf spring 27 shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings. The first leaf spring 26 comprises an elongated strap of spring metal having detents 28 formed on each of the ends thereof, and having its middle portion bowed. The bowed middle portion of the leaf spring 26'has a pair of opposed notches 29 formed therein for a purpose to be described more fully hereinafter; The second leaf spring 27 is likewise formed from an elongated strap of spring metal, but is approximately one-half the length of first leaf spring 26, and is bowed similarly to first leaf spring 26. The second leaf spring 27 has a detent 28 formed in one of the ends thereof, and a pair of opposed notches 29 cut in the side thereof in the manner similar to the first leaf spring 26. From an examination of Figures 4 and 5, it can be appreciated that leaf springs 26 and 27 can be stamped from the same die with second leaf spring 27 being cut off at a point such that the notched portion 29 is included. The leaf springs may be fabricated from any resilient sheet material, for example they may be formed from aspring metal strip three-quarters of an inch wide, 3 of an inch thick, and having a Rockwell hardness of C45-50. While, thismaterial is identified as comprising one suitable material for use, in forming leaf springs 26 and 27,

V Patented Mar. 3,1959

discloses a collapsible leg" shouldbe understood that the invention is by no means limited to use of that material alone.

Upon assembling the firstieaf spring 26 with the base member 13," leaf spring 26 is disposed parallelandadjacent to the long side 18 of base member 13 with its end overlying the aligned crank portions 24 of the rear retractable leg 15 and front retractable leg 14. The second leaf spring 27 is disposed on base member 13 parallel to and adjacent the short side 19 thereof so that.

the end of the leaf spring having detent 28 is disposed over the crank portion 24 of retractable'leg 16. By this arrangement, the leaf springs 26 and 27 serve to 'resili ently maintain the retractable legs 14 through'16 in either their extended or retracted positions. a a

In order to secure the leaf springs 26 and 27 to the base member 13, and both the leaf, springs and base member 13 to the bottom surface of a portable television re-.

and at right angles with respect to the plane of base,

member 13. Each of the'fixed bayonet'fasteners 31 has an integral engaging finger portion 32 extending in a first direction toward the front of base member 13, and are adapted to cooperate with a set of second movablebayonet fasteners 33, best shown in Figure 6, to retain base member 13 on a devicewith which the stand is used. Each of the movable bayonet fasteners 33 comprises a generally 'U-shaped bracket member that are secured to leaf springs 26"and 27, respectively, and have integral bayonet engaging finger portions 34. The movable bayonet fasteners 33 are sufficiently wide to embrace the width of the leaf springs 26 and 27'with the engaging finger portions 34 thereof extending over the sides of the leaf spring, and for convenience in assembling, as well as providing a structurally sound assembly, the movable bayonet fasteners are spot welded or otherwise secured to leaf springs 26 and 27.

The manner in which the bayonet fasteners31'and 33 cooperate to retain the retractable leg stand 'on the bottom surface of a device with which the-stand is used, will be described more fully hereinafter.

In first assembling a retractable leg stand constructed in accordance with the invention, the base member 13 is disposed over the louvered openings 36 in the bottom 37 of a portable television receiving set or'other device with which the collapsible leg stand'is used, as shown best in Figure 6. In doing this, the engaging finger portion 32 of the first fixed bayonet fasteners 31 extend down through the louvered openings 36 in the bottom of the television receiving set. By subsequently sliding the base member 13 into the position shown in Figure 6, the engaging finger portions 32 will extend under the edge of the louvered opening to grip it in the manner shown in Figure 7 of the drawings. ,With the retractable legs 14 and 15 in their retracted position, the leaf spring 26 is then placed so that each of the ends thereof overlies the crank portions 24 of each of the retractable legs. In this position, the small notches 29 formed in the sides ofleaf spring 26 will be aligned with a pair of stops 38 punched out from base member 13 which coact with the notches 29 to prevent too great relative longitudinal movement between the leaf spring 26 and the base member 13. At this stage, leaf spring 26 is compressed down against the web portion of base member 13, and then sliding the leaf spring together with the movable bayonet fastener attached thereto over to the edge of the louvered openings 36 through which the engaging fingers 34 extend, to the position shown in Figure 7. The engaging finger portions 34 of the movable bayonet fasteners 33 will consequently engage the edge of the louvered opening in the manner shown Figure 7. Thereafter, the tension of the bowed leaf spring 26 will serve to resiliently maintain the engaging finger portions 32 and 34 of both the fixed and movable bayonet fasteners against the under surface of the portable television receiver or other device to thereby retain the base member 13 and leaf spring 26 clamped against the under surface. In a similar fashion, the second leaf spring 27 is assembled by inserting the engaging fingers 34 of the movable bayonet fastener 33 attached thereto through the louvered openings and under the edge of the bottom surface of the television receiver set, or other device. This action compresses leaf spring 27 sufiiciently to tension both sets of bayonet fasteners 31 and 33 against the under surface of the television receiver set or other device to thereby firmly secure base member 13 to the bottom surface. The notches 29 formed in the end of the leaf spring 27 then engage a set of stops 39 formed adjacent the short side of base member 13 by folding a portion of the edge of the base member 13 downward on both sides of the leaf spring 27 to prevent too great a relative longitudinal movement between the leaf spring 27 and the base member 13. It should be noted, that the notches 29 formed in the leaf springs 26 and 27 are dimensioned to allow the freedom of longitudinal movement required to properly position the engaging fingers 34 of movable bayonetfasteners 33 but do not allow too great a freedom of longitudinal movement to make the assembly unstable.

Having assembled the collapsible leg stand comprising the invention on a bottom surface of a television receiver set, or other similar device, in the manner above-de scribed, the collapsible leg stand is then ready for use in service. As is briefly indicated in Figure 7, with the retractable legs 14 through 16 in their retracted position, the entire assembly is supported within the small area intermediate the bottom surface 37 of the television receiving set, or other device, and the ends of the small permanent legs or supports 41 secured to the bottom sur face of the set or device. -Consequently, it can be appreciated that portability of the television receiving set, or other similar device, is not impaired by securing thereon a collapsible leg stand constructed in accordance with the invention. Further, because the base member and other parts of the collapsible leg stand'have been fabricated in such a fashion as to reduce the weight of the stand to an absolute minimum, it is relatively light weight and does not appreciably increase the overallweight of the portable television receiver set, or other device with which it is used. In order to extend the retractable legs 14 through 16 of the collapsible leg stand from their position shown in Figure 6 to the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, all that is required is that each of the legs 14 through l6 bemoved-outagains't the tension of leaf springs 26 and 27 until the crank portions 24 thereof engage the detents .28 formed in ends of each ofthe leaf springs. In this position, the leaf springs 26 and 27 serve to maintain the legs in their extended position by reason of the coaction of the de tent and the tendencyof the springs to return to their normal bowed position. Consequently, it can be ap preciated that the leaf springs 26 and 27 serve to main tain the retractable legs 14 through 16-inboth their extended and retracted positions. If desired, detents, such as 42, may be formed in each of the leaf springs 26 and 27 to further assure maintaining the retractable legs 14 through 16 in their retracted position.

From the foregoing description, it can be appreciated that the invention provides a new and improved collapsible leg stand which may be sold as an accessory for use with portable devices, such as a portable television receiving set, and which maybe easily assembled on such television receiver set or other-devicewith a minimum of effort. In its retracted position, the new and improved collapsible leg stand fits into an available space upon the under surface of the portable device without greatly adding either to its bulk or weight. Additionally, the collapsible leg stand is relatively inexpensive to manufacture in that it requires a number of identical parts, and utilizes a number of parts which serve dual functions.

Obviously, other modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that changes may be made in the particular embodiment of the invention which are within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A detachable collapsible leg stand comprising a base member formed from relatively strong sheet material and having a stepped configuration so that one side there of and the front are longer than the remaining side thereof and the back, a pair of retractable legs hinged to the sides of the front of said base member and a single retractable leg hinged to the inside of the back of said base member to form a tripod, each of said retractable legs having integral crank portions adapted to be disposed adjacent the under surface of said base member upon said retractable legs being placed in a retracted position, a first leaf spring having detents formed in each end thereof disposed parallel and adjacent to the long side of said base member for resiliently engaging the crank portions of one of said front retractable legs and the crank portion of said back retractable leg, a second leaf spring disposed parallel and adjacent to the short side of said base member for resiliently engaging the crank portion of the remaining front retractable leg, and fastening means for detachably fastening said leaf springs to said base member and said base member to the bottom surface of an object to be supported by said collapsible leg stand.

2. A detachable collapsible leg stand for use with a portable device having louvered openings in the under surface thereof for cooling purposes comprising a base member having a plurality of folding legs retractably secured thereto, at least one leaf spring for selectively maintaining the folding legs in either the extended or retracted position thereof, a first set of fixed bayonet fasteners secured to said base member on the side thereof opposite said folding legs and having engaging fingers extending in a first direction, and a second set of movable bayonet fasteners secured to said leaf spring and having engaging fingers extending in a direction opposite from said first set of bayonet fasteners for coacting with said first set of bayonet fasteners to engage opposite ends of the louvered openings in the bottom surface of the portable device to be supported by said collapsible leg stand for securing said base member thereto.

3. A detachable collapsible leg stand for use with a portable television receiving set having louvered openings in the under surface thereof for cooling purposes comprising a base member formed from relatively strong sheet material and having a stepped configuration so that one side thereof and the front are longer than the remaining side thereof and the back, a pair of retractable legs hinged to the sides of the front of said base member and a single retractable leg hinged to the inside of the back of said base member to form a tripod, each of said retractable legs having integral crank portions adapted to be disposed adjacent the under surface of said base member upon said retractable legs being placed in the retracted position, a first leaf spring having detents formed in each end thereof disposed parallel and adjacent to the long side of said base member for resiliently engaging the crank portions of one of said front retractable legs and the crank portion of said back retractable leg, a second leaf disposed parallel and adjacent to the short side of said base member for resiliently engaging the crank portion of the remaining front retractable leg, said leaf springs serving to maintain the retractable legs in either the extended or retracted positions thereof, a first set of fixed bayonet fasteners secured to said base member on the side thereof opposite said retractable legs and having engaging fingers extending in a first direction, and a second set of movable bayonet fasteners secured to said leaf springs and having engaging fingers extending in a direction opposite from said first set of bayonet fasteners for coacting with said first set of bayonet fasteners to engage opposite ends of the louvered openings in the bottom surface of the portable television receiving set for securing said detachable collapsible leg stand thereto.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 further characterized by means for preventing substantial longitudinal movement of said leaf springs relative to said base member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 568,321 Whiting Sept. 22, 1896 1,600,823 Hess Sept. 21, 1926 1,709,927 Whitney Apr. 23, 1929 1,938,370 Bodkin Dec. 5, 1933 1,962,396 Katz et a1 June 12, 1934 

